10-Q 1 a06-21612_110q.htm QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(D)

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended SEPTEMBER 30, 2006

 

OR

 

o

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number: 0-24920

 

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Illinois

36-3894853

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

Two North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois

60606

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

 

 

(312) 474-1300

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

 

 




ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

September 30,
2006

 

December 31,
2005

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in real estate

 

 

 

 

 

Land

 

$

3,118,538

 

$

2,848,601

 

Depreciable property

 

13,195,156

 

13,336,636

 

Projects under development

 

335,227

 

240,980

 

Land held for development

 

199,369

 

164,153

 

Investment in real estate

 

16,848,290

 

16,590,370

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

(2,911,481

)

(2,888,140

)

Investment in real estate, net

 

13,936,809

 

13,702,230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate held for sale

 

646,155

 

-

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

76,324

 

88,828

 

Investments in unconsolidated entities

 

4,528

 

6,838

 

Rents receivable

 

1,452

 

789

 

Deposits — restricted

 

96,567

 

77,093

 

Escrow deposits — mortgage

 

32,410

 

35,225

 

Deferred financing costs, net

 

43,957

 

40,636

 

Goodwill, net

 

30,000

 

30,000

 

Other assets

 

101,864

 

117,306

 

Total assets

 

$

14,970,066

 

$

14,098,945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage notes payable

 

$

3,157,088

 

$

3,379,289

 

Mortgage notes payable, held for sale

 

196,325

 

-

 

Notes, net

 

4,469,043

 

3,442,784

 

Lines of credit

 

506,000

 

769,000

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

146,091

 

108,855

 

Accrued interest payable

 

73,174

 

78,441

 

Rents received in advance and other liabilities

 

292,515

 

302,418

 

Security deposits

 

63,901

 

54,823

 

Distributions payable

 

144,758

 

145,812

 

Total liabilities

 

9,048,895

 

8,281,422

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

Minority Interests — Partially Owned Properties

 

23,842

 

16,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Preference Units

 

387,351

 

504,096

 

Preference Interests and Junior Preference Units

 

11,684

 

60,184

 

General Partner

 

5,151,860

 

4,905,716

 

Limited Partners

 

361,060

 

345,034

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(14,626

)

(14,472

)

Total partners’ capital

 

5,897,329

 

5,800,558

 

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

 

$

14,970,066

 

$

14,098,945

 

 

See accompanying notes

2




ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands except per OP Unit data)
(Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental income

 

$

1,470,705

 

$

1,237,279

 

$

511,794

 

$

428,357

 

Fee and asset management

 

6,878

 

7,763

 

2,071

 

2,401

 

Total revenues

 

1,477,583

 

1,245,042

 

513,865

 

430,758

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and maintenance

 

390,732

 

338,810

 

138,285

 

121,562

 

Real estate taxes and insurance

 

148,604

 

136,813

 

51,525

 

50,181

 

Property management

 

70,081

 

63,351

 

23,417

 

21,944

 

Fee and asset management

 

6,477

 

6,358

 

2,151

 

2,182

 

Depreciation

 

415,179

 

323,608

 

143,255

 

111,370

 

General and administrative

 

37,638

 

45,944

 

14,448

 

14,442

 

Total expenses

 

1,068,711

 

914,884

 

373,081

 

321,681

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

408,872

 

330,158

 

140,784

 

109,077

 

Interest and other income

 

11,668

 

64,824

 

7,303

 

2,554

 

Interest:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expense incurred, net

 

(319,236

)

(266,063

)

(110,187

)

(92,335

)

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

(6,419

)

(4,832

)

(1,906

)

(1,602

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before allocation to Minority Interests, loss from investments in unconsolidated entities, net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities and land parcels and discontinued operations

 

94,885

 

124,087

 

35,994

 

17,694

 

Allocation to Minority Interests — Partially Owned Properties

 

(2,550

)

672

 

(482

)

(1,624

)

Loss from investments in unconsolidated entities

 

(565

)

(450

)

(190

)

(235

)

Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities

 

370

 

124

 

18

 

-

 

Net gain on sales of land parcels

 

3,183

 

10,366

 

2,937

 

-

 

Income from continuing operations

 

95,323

 

134,799

 

38,277

 

15,835

 

Discontinued operations, net

 

555,416

 

554,744

 

35,752

 

270,952

 

Net income

 

$

650,739

 

$

689,543

 

$

74,029

 

$

286,787

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALLOCATION OF NET INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preference Units

 

$

29,682

 

$

39,004

 

$

9,514

 

$

12,961

 

Preference Interests and Junior Preference Units

 

$

1,779

 

$

6,442

 

$

223

 

$

1,163

 

Premium on redemption of Preference Units

 

$

3,941

 

$

4,316

 

$

3,941

 

$

4,316

 

Premium on redemption of Preference Interests

 

$

684

 

$

4,134

 

$

1

 

$

22

 

General Partner

 

$

574,160

 

$

592,587

 

$

56,356

 

$

250,247

 

Limited Partners

 

40,493

 

43,060

 

3,994

 

18,078

 

Net income available to OP Units

 

$

614,653

 

$

635,647

 

$

60,350

 

$

268,325

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per OP Unit — basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations available to OP Units

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.26

 

$

0.08

 

$

(0.01

)

Net income available to OP Units

 

$

1.98

 

$

2.08

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.87

 

Weighted average OP Units outstanding

 

310,012

 

306,171

 

310,671

 

306,915

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per OP Unit — diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations available to OP Units

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.26

 

$

0.08

 

$

(0.01

)

Net income available to OP Units

 

1.95

 

$

2.05

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.87

 

Weighted average OP Units outstanding

 

314,982

 

310,211

 

315,886

 

306,915

 

Distributions declared per OP Unit outstanding

 

$

1.3275

 

$

1.2975

 

$

0.4425

 

$

0.4325

 

 

See accompanying notes

3




ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands except per OP Unit data)
(Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

650,739

 

$

689,543

 

$

74,029

 

$

286,787

 

Other comprehensive income — derivative and other instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period

 

(1,843

)

2,010

 

(4,252

)

13,684

 

Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income

 

1,689

 

1,797

 

553

 

629

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

650,585

 

$

693,350

 

$

70,330

 

$

301,100

 

 

See accompanying notes

4




ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

650,739

 

$

689,543

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Allocation to Minority Interests — Partially Owned Properties

 

2,550

 

(672

)

Depreciation

 

440,727

 

391,151

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

7,092

 

5,470

 

Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt

 

(5,100

)

(1,677

)

Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments

 

628

 

761

 

Income from technology investments

 

(3,736

)

(57,054

)

Loss from investments in unconsolidated entities

 

565

 

450

 

Distributions from unconsolidated entities — return on capital

 

138

 

 

Net (gain) on sales of unconsolidated entities

 

(370

)

(124

)

Net (gain) on sales of land parcels

 

(3,183

)

(10,366

)

Net (gain) on sales of discontinued operations

 

(526,873

)

(503,053

)

Loss on debt extinguishments

 

2,901

 

10,977

 

Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments

 

(12

)

10

 

Compensation paid with Company Common Shares

 

18,401

 

26,799

 

Other operating activities, net

 

2,623

 

480

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in rents receivable

 

(656

)

762

 

(Increase) decrease in deposits — restricted

 

(10,441

)

12,319

 

Decrease (increase) in other assets

 

11,224

 

(1,468

)

Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

35,659

 

25,463

 

(Decrease) in accrued interest payable

 

(5,422

)

(6,146

)

(Decrease) in rents received in advance and other liabilities

 

(40,908

)

(7,123

)

Increase in security deposits

 

8,743

 

452

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

585,289

 

576,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in real estate — acquisitions

 

(1,399,339

)

(871,477

)

Investment in real estate — development/other

 

(193,601

)

(127,461

)

Improvements to real estate

 

(181,226

)

(167,274

)

Additions to non-real estate property

 

(7,278

)

(12,447

)

Interest capitalized for real estate under development

 

(13,176

)

(9,105

)

Proceeds from disposition of real estate, net

 

1,066,894

 

1,476,746

 

Proceeds from disposition of unconsolidated entities

 

373

 

124

 

Proceeds from technology investments

 

3,736

 

82,054

 

Investments in unconsolidated entities

 

(1,052

)

(1,377

)

Distributions from unconsolidated entities — return of capital

 

92

 

330

 

Decrease (increase) in deposits on real estate acquisitions, net

 

10,303

 

(235,491

)

Decrease (increase) in mortgage deposits

 

3,215

 

(564

)

Consolidation of previously Unconsolidated Properties:

 

 

 

 

 

Via acquisition (net of cash acquired)

 

 

(65

)

Via EITF 04-05 (cash consolidated)

 

1,436

 

 

Acquisition of Minority Interests — Partially Owned Properties

 

(71

)

(1,712

)

Other investing activities, net

 

2

 

67,200

 

Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities

 

(709,692

)

199,481

 

 

See accompanying notes

5




ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Loan and bond acquisition costs

 

$

(10,159

)

$

(10,525

)

Mortgage notes payable:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds

 

247,833

 

249,491

 

Restricted cash

 

(19,160

)

 

Lump sum payoffs

 

(245,895

)

(351,492

)

Scheduled principal repayments

 

(21,067

)

(21,060

)

Prepayment premiums/fees

 

(2,901

)

(10,977

)

Notes, net:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds

 

1,039,927

 

499,435

 

Lump sum payoffs

 

(10,000

)

(190,000

)

Scheduled principal repayments

 

(4,286

)

(4,286

)

Lines of credit:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds

 

5,351,500

 

3,573,300

 

Repayments

 

(5,614,500

)

(3,723,300

)

Proceeds from (payments on) settlement of derivative instruments

 

10,729

 

(7,823

)

Proceeds from sale of OP Units

 

6,631

 

7,369

 

Proceeds from exercise of EQR options

 

50,413

 

34,610

 

OP Units repurchased and retired

 

(83,230

)

 

Redemption of Preference Units

 

(115,000

)

 

Redemption of Preference Interests

 

(25,500

)

(146,000

)

Premium on redemption of Preference Units

 

(4

)

 

Premium on redemption of Preference Interests

 

(10

)

(322

)

Payment of offering costs

 

(83

)

(26

)

Contributions — Minority Interests — Partially Owned Properties

 

5,830

 

1,746

 

Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

OP Units — General Partner

 

(384,901

)

(371,373

)

Preference Units

 

(31,899

)

(39,118

)

Preference Interests and Junior Preference Units

 

(1,832

)

(6,614

)

OP Units — Limited Partners

 

(27,106

)

(26,926

)

Minority Interests — Partially Owned Properties

 

(3,431

)

(9,116

)

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities

 

111,899

 

(553,007

)

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(12,504

)

223,428

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

88,828

 

83,505

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

76,324

 

$

306,933

 

 

See accompanying notes

6




ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for interest

 

$

357,109

 

$

303,071

 

Cash paid during the period for income, franchise and excise taxes

 

$

11,967

 

$

9,398

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate acquisitions/dispositions/other:

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans assumed

 

$

92,528

 

$

318,424

 

Valuation of OP Units issued

 

$

49,591

 

$

1,800

 

Mortgage loans (assumed) by purchaser

 

$

(117,949

)

$

(35,031

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidation of previously Unconsolidated Properties — Via acquisition:

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in real estate

 

$

 

$

(2,892

)

Mortgage loans assumed

 

$

 

$

2,012

 

Minority Interests — Partially Owned Properties

 

$

 

$

59

 

Investments in unconsolidated entities

 

$

 

$

668

 

Net other liabilities recorded

 

$

 

$

88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidation of previously Unconsolidated Properties — Via EITF 04-05:

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in real estate, net

 

$

(24,637

)

$

 

Mortgage loans consolidated

 

$

22,545

 

$

 

Investments in unconsolidated entities

 

$

2,602

 

$

 

Net other liabilities recorded

 

$

926

 

$

 

 

See accompanying notes

7




ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1.                 Business

ERP Operating Limited Partnership (“ERPOP”), a limited partnership, was formed in May 1993 to conduct the multifamily residential property business of Equity Residential (“EQR”). EQR is a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) formed in March 1993 and is a fully integrated real estate company primarily engaged in the acquisition, development, ownership, management and operation of multifamily properties. In addition, ERPOP may acquire or develop multifamily properties specifically to convert directly into condominiums as well as upgrade and sell existing properties as individual condominiums. ERPOP may also acquire land parcels to hold and/or sell based on market opportunities. EQR has elected to be taxed as a REIT.

EQR is the general partner of, and as of September 30, 2006 owned an approximate 93.4% ownership interest in ERPOP. EQR is structured as an umbrella partnership REIT (“UPREIT”), under which all property ownership and business operations are conducted through ERPOP and its subsidiaries. References to the “Operating Partnership” include ERPOP and those entities owned or controlled by it. References to the “Company” mean EQR and the Operating Partnership.

As of September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership, directly or indirectly through investments in title holding entities, owned all or a portion of 905 properties in 31 states and the District of Columbia consisting of 193,692 units. Following the Lexford Housing Division sale on October 5, 2006, the Operating Partnership, directly or indirectly through investments in title holding entities, owned all or a portion of 616 properties in 26 states and the District of Columbia consisting of 166,577 units. The ownership breakdown includes the following at each respective date (table does not include various uncompleted development properties):

 

 

 

 

After Lexford

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2006

 

Housing Division Sale

 

 

 

Properties

 

Units

 

Properties

 

Units

 

Wholly Owned Properties

 

825

 

173,313

 

545

 

147,215

 

Partially Owned Properties:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

34

 

5,890

 

25

 

4,873

 

Unconsolidated

 

45

 

10,846

 

45

 

10,846

 

Military Housing (Fee Managed)

 

1

 

3,643

 

1

 

3,643

 

 

 

905

 

193,692

 

616

 

166,577

 

 

2.                 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) and certain reclassifications considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements in order to conform to the current year presentation. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2006.

The balance sheet at December 31, 2005 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.

8




For further information, including definition of capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Operating Partnership’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Other

The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, as required effective January 1, 2006. SFAS No. 123(R) requires all companies to expense stock-based compensation (such as stock options), as well as making other revisions to SFAS No. 123. As the Company began expensing all stock-based compensation effective January 1, 2003, the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) did not have a material effect on its consolidated statements of operations or financial position.

Any Common Shares issued pursuant to EQR’s incentive equity compensation and employee share purchase plans will result in the Operating Partnership issuing units of limited partnership interest (“OP Units”) to EQR on a one-for-one basis, with the Operating Partnership receiving the net cash proceeds of such issuances.

The Operating Partnership adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 150 and FSP No. FAS 150-3, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity, effective December 31, 2003. SFAS No. 150 and FSP No. FAS 150-3 require the Operating Partnership to make certain disclosures regarding noncontrolling interests that are classified as equity in the financial statements of a subsidiary but would be classified as a liability in the parent’s financial statements under SFAS No. 150 (e.g., minority interests in consolidated limited-life subsidiaries). The Operating Partnership is presently the controlling partner in various consolidated partnerships consisting of 34 properties and 5,890 units and various uncompleted development properties having a minority interest book value of $23.8 million at September 30, 2006. Some of these partnerships contain provisions that require the partnerships to be liquidated through the sale of its assets upon reaching a date specified in each respective partnership agreement. The Operating Partnership, as controlling partner, has an obligation to cause the property owning partnerships to distribute proceeds of liquidation to the Minority Interests in these Partially Owned Properties only to the extent that the net proceeds received by the partnerships from the sale of its assets warrant a distribution based on the partnership agreements. As of September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership estimates the value of Minority Interest distributions would have been approximately $96.5 million (“Settlement Value”) had the partnerships been liquidated. This Settlement Value is based on estimated third party consideration realized by the partnerships upon disposition of the Partially Owned Properties and is net of all other assets and liabilities, including yield maintenance on the mortgages encumbering the properties, that would have been due on September 30, 2006 had those mortgages been prepaid. Due to, among other things, the inherent uncertainty in the sale of real estate assets, the amount of any potential distribution to the Minority Interests in the Operating Partnership’s Partially Owned Properties is subject to change. To the extent that the partnerships’ underlying assets are worth less than the underlying liabilities, the Operating Partnership has no obligation to remit any consideration to the Minority Interests in Partially Owned Properties.

The Operating Partnership adopted EITF Issue No. 04-05, Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights (“Issue 04-05”), effective January 1, 2006. Issue 04-05 provides guidance in determining whether a general partner controls a limited partnership. The Operating Partnership consolidated its Lexford syndicated portfolio consisting of 20 separate partnerships (10 properties) containing 1,272 units, all of which are included as held for sale at September 30, 2006. The adoption did not have a material effect on the results of operations or financial position. See Note 4 for further discussion of the adoption of EITF Issue No. 04-05.

In July 2006, the FASB ratified the consensus in Financial Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. FIN No. 48 creates a single model to address uncertainty in income tax

9




positions and prescribes a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. It also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition and, clearly scopes income taxes out of SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies. The Operating Partnership will adopt FIN No. 48 as required effective January 1, 2007. Adoption is not expected to have a material effect on the consolidated results of operations or financial position.

3.                 Partners’ Capital

The following tables present the changes in the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding OP Units and the limited partners’ OP Units for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:

 

2006

 

OP Units outstanding at January 1,

 

309,960,589

 

 

 

 

 

Issued to General Partner:

 

 

 

Conversion of Series E Preference Units

 

71,747

 

Conversion of Series H Preference Units

 

7,673

 

Conversion of Series H and I Preference Interests

 

679,686

 

Employee Share Purchase Plan

 

182,460

 

Dividend Reinvestment — DRIP Plan

 

169

 

Exercise of EQR options

 

1,894,702

 

Restricted EQR share grants, net

 

621,254

 

 

 

 

 

Issued to Limited Partners:

 

 

 

Issuance — Acquisitions

 

1,144,326

 

 

 

 

 

OP Units Other:

 

 

 

Repurchased and retired

 

(1,897,912

)

 

 

 

 

OP Units outstanding at September 30,

 

312,664,694

 

 

 

2006

 

Limited Partner OP Units outstanding at January 1,

 

20,424,245

 

 

 

 

 

Limited Partner OP Units Issued:

 

 

 

Acquisitions

 

1,144,326

 

Conversion of Limited Partner OP Units to EQR Common Shares

 

(1,036,620

)

Limited Partner OP Units Outstanding at September 30,

 

20,531,951

 

Limited Partner OP Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership

 

6.6

%

 

 

 

 

Limited Partner OP Units Issued:

 

 

 

Acquisitions — per unit

 

$

43.34

 

Acquisitions — valuation

 

$

49.6 million

 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company repurchased 1,897,912 of its Common Shares on the open market at an average price of $43.85 per share. The Company paid approximately $83.2 million for these shares, which were retired subsequent to the repurchase. Concurrent with this transaction, the Operating Partnership repurchased and retired 1,897,912 OP Units previously issued to EQR.

The Limited Partners of the Operating Partnership as of September 30, 2006 include various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units. Subject to certain restrictions, the Limited Partners may exchange their OP Units for EQR Common Shares on a one-for-one basis.

10




EQR contributes all net proceeds from its various equity offerings (including proceeds from exercise of options for EQR Common Shares) to the Operating Partnership. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units in ERPOP equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering (or in the case of a preferred equity offering, a number of preference units in ERPOP equal in number and having the same terms as the preferred shares issued in the equity offering).

The following table presents the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding “Preference Units” as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual

 

Amounts in thousands

 

 

 

Redemption
Date (1) (2)

 

Conversion
Rate (2)

 

Dividend per
Unit (3)

 

September
30, 2006

 

December
31, 2005

 

Preference Units:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

91¤8% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $250 per unit; 0 and 460,000 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

9/9/06

 

N/A

 

(5

)

$

 

$

115,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.60% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $250 per unit; 700,000 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 (4)

 

7/15/07

 

N/A

 

$

21.50

 

175,000

 

175,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preference Units; liquidation value $25 per unit; 464,616 and 529,096 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

11/1/98

 

1.1128

 

$

1.75

 

11,615

 

13,228

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.00% Series H Cumulative Convertible Preference Units; liquidation value $25 per unit; 29,434 and 34,734 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

6/30/98

 

1.4480

 

$

1.75

 

736

 

868

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 1,000,000 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005

 

12/10/26

 

N/A

 

$

4.145

 

50,000

 

50,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.48% Series N Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $250 per unit; 600,000 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 (4)

 

6/19/08

 

N/A

 

$

16.20

 

150,000

 

150,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

387,351

 

$

504,096

 


(1)             On or after the redemption date, redeemable preference units (Series D, K and N) may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per unit, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption of the corresponding EQR Preferred Shares.

(2)             On or after the redemption date, convertible preference units (Series E & H) may be redeemed under certain circumstances at the option of the Operating Partnership for cash (in the case of Series E) or OP Units (in the case of Series H), in whole or in part, at various redemption prices per unit based upon the contractual conversion rate, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption/conversion of the corresponding EQR Preferred Shares.

(3)             Dividends on all series of Preference Units are payable quarterly at various pay dates. Dividends listed for Series D and N are Preference Unit rates and the equivalent Depositary Unit annual dividends are $2.15 and $1.62 per unit, respectively.

(4)             Series D and N Preference Units each have a corresponding depositary unit that consists of ten times the number of units and one-tenth the liquidation value and dividend per unit.

(5)             On August 9, 2006, the Operating Partnership issued an irrevocable notice to redeem for cash on September 11, 2006 all 460,000 units of its 9 1/8% Series C Preference Units in conjunction with the concurrent redemption of the corresponding EQR Preferred Shares. The Operating Partnership recorded approximately $3.9 million as a premium on redemption of Preference Units in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

11




The following table presents the issued and outstanding Preference Interests as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual

 

Amounts in thousands

 

 

 

Redemption
Date (1) (2)

 

Conversion
Rate (2)

 

Dividend per
Unit (3)

 

September
30, 2006

 

December
31, 2005

 

Preference Interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.875% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 0 and 510,000 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

03/21/06

 

N/A

 

(4

)

$

 

$

25,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.625% Series H Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 0 and 190,000 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

03/23/06

 

1.5108

 

(5

)

 

9,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.625% Series I Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 0 and 270,000 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

06/22/06

 

1.4542

 

(6

)

 

13,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.625% Series J Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 230,000 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005

 

12/14/06

 

1.4108

 

$

3.8125

 

11,500

 

11,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

11,500

 

$

60,000

 


(1)             On or after the fifth anniversary of the respective issuance (the “Redemption Date”), all of the Preference Interests may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation preference of $50.00 per unit plus the cumulative amount of accrued and unpaid distributions, if any.

(2)             On or after the tenth anniversary of the respective issuance (the “Conversion Date”), all of the Preference Interests are exchangeable at the option of the holder (in whole but not in part) on a one-for-one basis for a respective reserved series of EQR Preferred Shares. In addition, on or after the Conversion Date, the convertible Preference Interests may be converted under certain circumstances at the option of the holder (in whole but not in part) to Common Shares based upon the contractual conversion rate, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any. Prior to the Conversion Date, the convertible Preference Interests may be converted under certain circumstances at the option of the holder (in whole but not in part) to Common Shares based upon the contractual conversion rate, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, if the issuer has called the series for redemption (the “Accelerated Conversion Right”).

(3)             Dividends on all series of Preference Interests are payable quarterly on March 25th, June 25th, September 25th and December 25th of each year.

(4)             On February 10, 2006, the Operating Partnership issued an irrevocable notice to redeem for cash on March 21, 2006 all 510,000 units of its 7.875% Series G Preference Interests with a liquidation value of $25.5 million. The Operating Partnership recorded approximately $0.7 million as a premium on redemption of Preference Interests in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

(5)             On February 10, 2006, the Operating Partnership issued an irrevocable notice to redeem for cash on March 23, 2006 all 190,000 units of its 7.625% Series H Preference Interests with a liquidation value of $9.5 million. This notice triggered the holder’s Accelerated Conversion Right, which they exercised. As a result, effective March 23, 2006, the 190,000 units were converted to 287,052 Common Shares.

(6)             On May 16, 2006, the Operating Partnership issued an irrevocable notice to redeem for cash on June 22, 2006 all 270,000 units of its 7.625% Series I Preference Interests with a liquidation value of $13.5 million. This notice triggered the holder’s Accelerated Conversion Right, which they exercised. As a result, effective June 22, 2006, the 270,000 units were converted to 392,634 Common Shares.

The following table presents the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding Junior Convertible Preference Units (the “Junior Preference Units”) as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

12




 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual

 

Amounts in thousands

 

 

 

Redemption
Date (2)

 

Conversion
Rate (2)

 

Dividend per
Unit (1)

 

September
30, 2006

 

December
31, 2005

 

Junior Preference Units:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series B Junior Convertible Preference Units; liquidation value $25 per unit; 7,367 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005

 

07/29/09

 

1.020408

 

$

2.00

 

$

184

 

$

184

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

184

 

$

184

 


(1)             Dividends on the Junior Preference Units are payable quarterly at various pay dates.

(2)             On or after the tenth anniversary of the issuance (the “Redemption Date”), the Series B Junior Preference Units may be converted into OP Units at the option of the Operating Partnership based on the contractual conversion rate. Prior to the Redemption Date, the holders may elect to convert the Series B Junior Preference Units to OP Units under certain circumstances based on the contractual conversion rate. The contractual rate is based upon a ratio dependent upon the closing price of EQR’s Common Shares.

4.                 Real Estate

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership acquired the entire equity interest in 28 properties containing 7,480 units and six land parcels from unaffiliated parties for a total purchase price of $1.5 billion. The Operating Partnership also acquired the majority of its partners’ interests in seventeen partially owned properties containing 1,415 units for $38.7 million, partially funded through the issuance of 417,039 OP Units valued at $18.6 million.

The Operating Partnership adopted EITF Issue No. 04-05, as required for existing limited partnership arrangements, effective January 1, 2006. The adoption required the consolidation of the Lexford syndicated portfolio consisting of 20 separate partnerships (10 properties) containing 1,272 units, all of which are included as held for sale at September 30, 2006. The Operating Partnership recorded $24.6 million in investment in real estate and the following:

·                  Consolidated $22.5 million in mortgage debt;

·                  Reduced investments in unconsolidated entities by $2.6 million;

·                  Consolidated $0.9 million of other liabilities net of other assets acquired; and

·                  Consolidated $1.4 million of cash.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership disposed of the following to unaffiliated parties (sales price in thousands):

 

Properties

 

Units

 

Sales Price

 

Rental Properties

 

40

 

10,661

 

$

1,032,459

 

Condominium Units

 

5

 

840

 

172,633

 

Land Parcels (two)

 

 

 

1,569

 

 

 

45

 

11,501

 

$

1,206,661

 

 

The Operating Partnership recognized a net gain on sales of discontinued operations of approximately $526.9 million (amount is net of $11.2 million of income taxes incurred on condominium sales — see additional discussion in Note 13), a net gain on sales of land parcels of $3.2 million and a net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities of $0.4 million on the above sales.

On June 28, 2006, the Operating Partnership announced that it agreed to sell its Lexford Housing Division for a cash purchase price of $1.086 billion. The sale closed on October 5, 2006. The Lexford Housing Division results are classified as discontinued operations, net of minority interests, in the consolidated

13




statements of operations for all periods presented and Lexford investment in real estate and mortgage notes payable balances are classified as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2006. The Operating Partnership expects to record a gain on sale of approximately $420.0 million on the sale of the Lexford Housing Division in the fourth quarter of 2006. In conjunction with the Lexford disposition, the Operating Partnership paid off $196.3 million of mortgage notes payable secured by the properties and incurred approximately $10.8 million in prepayment penalties upon extinguishment. The Operating Partnership also recorded approximately $4.5 million in one-time accrued retention benefits during the third quarter of 2006 related to the Lexford disposition. These costs are included in discontinued operations, net, in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 13 for additional information.

5.                 Commitments to Acquire/Dispose of Real Estate

As of November 1, 2006, in addition to the properties that were subsequently acquired as discussed in Note 16, the Operating Partnership had entered into separate agreements to acquire the following (purchase price in thousands):

 

Properties/
Parcels

 

Units

 

Purchase
Price

 

Operating Properties

 

3

 

866

 

$

126,000

 

Land Parcels

 

4

 

 

75,440

 

Total

 

7

 

866

 

$

201,440

 

 

As of November 1, 2006, in addition to the properties that were subsequently disposed as discussed in Note 16, the Operating Partnership had entered into separate agreements (including option rights) to dispose of the following (sales price in thousands):

 

Properties/
Parcels

 

Units

 

Sales Price

 

Operating Properties

 

6

 

1,198

 

$

109,880

 

Development Properties

 

1

 

 

82,690

 

Land Parcels

 

1

 

 

2,500

 

Total

 

8

 

1,198

 

$

195,070

 

 

The closings of these pending transactions are subject to certain contingencies and conditions; therefore, there can be no assurance that these transactions will be consummated or that the final terms thereof will not differ in material respects from those summarized in the preceding paragraphs.

6.                 Investments in Partially Owned Entities

The Operating Partnership has co-invested in various properties with unrelated third parties which are either consolidated or accounted for under the equity method of accounting (unconsolidated). The following table summarizes the Operating Partnership’s investments in partially owned entities as of September 30, 2006 (amounts in thousands except for project and unit amounts):

14




 

 

Consolidated

 

Unconsolidated

 

 

 

Development Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Held for
and/or Under
Development

 

Completed and
Stabilized

 

Lexford

 

Other

 

Total

 

Institutional
Joint Ventures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total projects (1)

 

 

4

 

9

 

21

 

34

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total units (1)

 

 

977

 

1,017

 

3,896

 

5,890

 

10,846

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt — Secured (2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQR Ownership (3)

 

$

142,099

 

$

61,000

 

$

13,994

 

$

287,086

 

$

504,179

 

$

121,200

 

Minority Ownership

 

 

 

415

 

13,321

 

13,736

 

363,600

 

Total (at 100%)

 

$

142,099

 

$

61,000

 

$

14,409

 

$

300,407

 

$

517,915

 

$

484,800

 


(1)             Project and unit counts exclude all uncompleted development projects until those projects are completed.

(2)             All debt is non-recourse to the Operating Partnership with the exception of $28.3 million in mortgage bonds on one development project.

(3)             Represents the Operating Partnership’s economic ownership interest.

7.                 Deposits — Restricted

The following table presents the deposits — restricted as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 (amounts in thousands):

 

September
30, 2006

 

December
31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax-deferred (1031) exchange proceeds

 

$

 

$

853

 

Earnest money on pending acquisitions

 

5,670

 

15,120

 

Resident security, utility and other

 

90,897

 

61,120

 

Totals

 

$

96,567

 

$

77,093

 

 

8.                 Mortgage Notes Payable

As of September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership had outstanding mortgage indebtedness of approximately $3.4 billion, of which $196.3 million is classified as held for sale.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership:

·                  Repaid $267.0 million of mortgage loans;

·                  Assumed/consolidated $115.1 million of mortgage debt on certain properties in connection with their acquisitions and/or consolidations;

·                  Obtained $247.8 million of new mortgage loans on certain properties; and

·                  Was released from $117.9 million of mortgage debt assumed by the purchaser on disposed properties.

As of September 30, 2006, scheduled maturities for the Operating Partnership’s outstanding mortgage indebtedness were at various dates through September 1, 2045. At September 30, 2006, the interest rate range on the Operating Partnership’s mortgage debt was 3.32% to 12.465%. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the weighted average interest rate on the Operating Partnership’s mortgage debt was 5.83%.

15




9.                 Notes

As of September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership had outstanding unsecured notes of approximately $4.5 billion.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership:

·                  Issued $400.0 million of ten and one-half year 5.375% fixed rate public notes, receiving net proceeds of $395.5 million; and

·                  Issued $650.0 million of twenty year 3.85% fixed rate public notes that are exchangeable into EQR Common Shares, receiving net proceeds of $637.0 million (see further discussion below).

On August 23, 2006, the Operating Partnership issued $650.0 million of exchangeable senior notes that mature on August 15, 2026. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.85%. The notes are exchangeable into EQR Common Shares, at the option of the holders, under specific circumstances or on or after August 15, 2025, at an initial exchange rate of 16.3934 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes (equivalent to an initial exchange price of $61.00 per share). The initial exchange rate is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, including upon an increase in EQR’s dividend rate. Upon an exchange of the notes, the Operating Partnership will settle any amounts up to the principal amount of the notes in cash and the remaining exchange value, if any, will be settled, at the Operating Partnership’s option, in cash, EQR Common Shares or a combination of both.

On or after August 18, 2011, the Operating Partnership may redeem the notes at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of the notes plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Upon notice of redemption by the Operating Partnership, the holders may elect to exercise their exchange rights. In addition, on August 18, 2011, August 15, 2016 and August 15, 2021 or following the occurrence of certain change in control transactions prior to August 18, 2011, note holders may require the Operating Partnership to repurchase the notes for an amount equal to the principal amount of the notes plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

Note holders may also require an exchange of the notes subsequent to September 30, 2006 should the closing sale price of EQR Common Shares exceed 130% of the exchange price for a certain period of time or should the trading price on the notes be less than 98% of the product of the closing sales price of EQR Common Shares multiplied by the applicable exchange rate for a certain period of time.

As of September 30, 2006, scheduled maturities for the Operating Partnership’s outstanding notes were at various dates through 2029. At September 30, 2006, the interest rate range on the Operating Partnership’s notes was 3.85% to 7.625%. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the weighted average interest rate on the Operating Partnership’s notes was 5.97%.

10.          Lines of Credit

The Operating Partnership has an unsecured revolving credit facility with potential borrowings of up to $1.0 billion maturing on May 29, 2008, with the ability to increase available borrowings up to $500.0 million under certain circumstances. Advances under the credit facility bear interest at variable rates based upon LIBOR at various interest periods plus a spread dependent upon the Operating Partnership’s credit rating or based on bids received from the lending group. EQR has guaranteed the Operating Partnership’s credit facility up to the maximum amount and for the full term of the facility.

On August 30, 2005, the Operating Partnership obtained a new one-year $600.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility maturing on August 29, 2006. This credit facility was repaid in full and terminated on January 20, 2006.

On July 6, 2006, the Operating Partnership obtained a new one-year $500.0 million unsecured revolving

16




credit facility maturing on July 6, 2007. This facility was repaid in full and terminated on October 13, 2006. Advances under this facility bore interest at variable rates based on LIBOR at various interest periods plus a spread dependent upon the Operating Partnership’s credit rating. EQR guaranteed this credit facility up to the maximum amount and for its full term.

As of September 30, 2006, $506.0 million was outstanding and $82.0 million was restricted (dedicated to support letters of credit and not available for borrowing) on the $1.5 billion revolving credit facilities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the weighted average interest rate under the credit facilities was 5.34%.

11.          Derivative Instruments

The following table summarizes the consolidated derivative instruments at September 30, 2006 (dollar amounts are in thousands):

 

 

Fair Value
Hedges (1)

 

Forward Starting
Swaps (2)

 

Development
Cash Flow
Hedges (3)

 

Current Notional Balance

 

$

370,000

 

$

100,000

 

$

32,610

 

Lowest Possible Notional

 

$

370,000

 

$

100,000

 

$

13,925

 

Highest Possible Notional

 

$

370,000

 

$

100,000

 

$

46,296

 

Lowest Interest Rate

 

3.245

%

5.596

%

4.530

%

Highest Interest Rate

 

3.787

%

5.596

%

4.530

%

Earliest Maturity Date

 

2009

 

2017

 

2007

 

Latest Maturity Date

 

2009

 

2017

 

2007

 

Estimated Asset (Liability) Fair Value

 

$

(13,881

)

$

(3,228

)

$

130

 


(1)             Fair Value Hedges — Converts outstanding fixed rate debt to a floating interest rate.

(2)             Forward Starting Swaps — Designed to partially fix the interest rate in advance of a future debt issuance.

(3)             Development Cash Flow Hedges — Converts outstanding floating rate debt to a fixed interest rate.

On September 30, 2006, the net derivative instruments were reported at their fair value as other assets of approximately $0.1 million and as other liabilities of approximately $17.1 million. As of September 30, 2006, there were approximately $15.2 million in deferred losses, net, included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Based on the estimated fair values of the net derivative instruments at September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership may recognize an estimated $2.4 million of accumulated other comprehensive loss as additional interest expense during the twelve months ending September 30, 2007.

In January 2006, the Operating Partnership received approximately $10.7 million to terminate six forward starting swaps in conjunction with the issuance of $400.0 million of ten and one-half year unsecured notes. The $10.7 million has been deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and will be recognized as a reduction of interest expense over the life of the unsecured notes.

12.          Earnings Per OP Unit

The following tables set forth the computation of net income per OP Unit — basic and net income per OP Unit — diluted (amounts in thousands except per OP Unit amounts):

17




 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Numerator for net income per OP Unit — basic and diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

95,323

 

$

134,799

 

$

38,277

 

$

15,835

 

Allocation to Preference Units

 

(29,682

)

(39,004

)

(9,514

)

(12,961

)

Allocation to Preference Interests and Junior Preference Units

 

(1,779

)

(6,442

)

(223

)

(1,163

)

Allocation to premium on redemption of Preference Units

 

(3,941

)

(4,316

)

(3,941

)

(4,316

)

Allocation to premium on redemption of Preference Interests

 

(684

)

(4,134

)

(1

)

(22

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations available to OP Units

 

59,237

 

80,903

 

24,598

 

(2,627

)

Discontinued operations, net

 

555,416

 

554,744

 

35,752

 

270,952

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator for net income per OP Unit — basic and diluted

 

$

614,653

 

$

635,647

 

$

60,350

 

$

268,325

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator for net income per OP Unit — basic and diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator for net income per OP Unit — basic

 

310,012

 

306,171

 

310,671

 

306,915

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dilution for OP Units issuable upon assumed exercise/vesting of EQR’s share options/restricted shares

 

4,970

 

4,040

 

5,215

 

 

Denominator for net income per OP Unit — diluted

 

314,982

 

310,211

 

315,886

 

306,915

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per OP Unit — basic

 

$

1.98

 

$

2.08

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per OP Unit — diluted

 

$

1.95

 

$

2.05

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per OP Unit — basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations available to OP Units

 

$

0.191

 

$

0.264

 

$

0.079

 

$

(0.009

)

Discontinued operations, net

 

1.792

 

1.813

 

0.115

 

0.883

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per OP Unit — basic

 

$

1.983

 

$

2.077

 

$

0.194

 

$

0.874

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per OP Unit — diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations available to OP Units

 

$

0.188

 

$

0.261

 

$

0.078

 

$

(0.009

)

Discontinued operations, net

 

1.763

 

1.788

 

0.113

 

0.883

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per OP Unit — diluted

 

$

1.951

 

$

2.049

 

$

0.191

 

$

0.874

 

 

Potential common shares issuable from the assumed exercise of EQR share options and the vesting of EQR restricted shares are automatically anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the diluted earnings per OP Unit calculation as the Operating Partnership has a loss from continuing operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005.

Convertible preference units/interests that could be converted into 1,260,905 and 1,807,587 weighted average Common Shares (which would be contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units) for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and 900,802 and 1,720,246 weighted average Common Shares for the quarters ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per OP Unit because the effects would be anti-dilutive.

13.          Discontinued Operations

The Operating Partnership has presented separately as discontinued operations in all periods the results of operations for all consolidated assets disposed of on or after January 1, 2002 (the date of adoption of SFAS No. 144), all operations related to condominium conversion properties effective upon their respective transfer into a TRS and all properties held for sale.

The components of discontinued operations are outlined below and include the results of operations for the respective periods that the Operating Partnership owned such assets during the nine months and quarters

18




ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (amounts in thousands).

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental income

 

$

163,033

 

$

275,982

 

$

46,710

 

$

85,445

 

Fee and asset management

 

 

693

 

 

229

 

Total revenues

 

163,033

 

276,675

 

46,710

 

85,674

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and maintenance

 

61,084

 

89,467

 

18,615

 

27,392

 

Real estate taxes and insurance

 

19,452

 

34,656

 

5,568

 

11,006

 

Property management

 

8,894

 

7,835

 

2,960

 

2,717

 

Depreciation

 

25,548

 

67,543

 

 

20,513

 

General and administrative

 

5,555

 

924

 

4,729

 

218

 

Total expenses

 

120,533

 

200,425

 

31,872

 

61,846

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued operating income

 

42,500

 

76,250

 

14,838

 

23,828

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and other income

 

1,519

 

857

 

504

 

388

 

Interest (2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expense incurred, net

 

(14,803

)

(24,778

)

(4,126

)

(7,077

)

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

(673

)

(638

)

(40

)

(365

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued operations

 

28,543

 

51,691

 

11,176

 

16,774

 

Net gain on sales of discontinued operations

 

526,873

 

503,053

 

24,576

 

254,178

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued operations, net

 

$

555,416

 

$

554,744

 

$

35,752

 

$

270,952

 


(1)          Includes expenses paid in the current period for properties sold or held for sale in prior periods related to the Operating Partnership’s period of ownership.

(2)          Includes only interest expense specific to secured mortgage notes payable for properties sold and/or held for sale.

For the properties sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 (excluding condominium conversion properties), the investment in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation, and the mortgage notes payable balances at December 31, 2005 were $544.9 million and $137.0 million, respectively.

For the properties held for sale at September 30, 2006 (Lexford Housing Division), the investment in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation, and the mortgage notes payable balances at December 31, 2005 were $620.2 million and $205.2 million, respectively. These amounts exclude the Lexford syndicated portfolio as those properties were not consolidated until January 1, 2006.

The Operating Partnership generally is not liable for Federal income taxes as the partners recognize their proportionate share of the Operating Partnership’s income or loss in their tax returns; therefore no provision for federal income taxes has been made at the ERPOP level. Due to the structure of the Company as a REIT and the nature of the operations of its operating properties, no provision for federal income taxes has been made at the EQR level. Historically, the Operating Partnership has generally only incurred certain state and local income, excise and franchise taxes.

The Operating Partnership has elected Taxable REIT Subsidiary (“TRS”) status for certain of its corporate subsidiaries, primarily those entities engaged in condominium conversion and sale activities and as a result, these entities have incurred federal and state income taxes. The Operating Partnership recognized provisions for income taxes of $11.2 million and $5.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and $3.0 million and $5.3 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These amounts were classified as reductions of discontinued operations, net in the

19




accompanying consolidated statements of operations. In addition, the aggregate results of operations (primarily net operating income) of the Operating Partnership’s condominium conversion properties are included in discontinued operations, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

The net real estate basis of the Operating Partnership’s condominium conversion properties and land parcels owned by the TRS and included in discontinued operations, which were included in investment in real estate, net in the consolidated balance sheets, was $301.7 million and $292.4 million at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

14.          Commitments and Contingencies

The Operating Partnership, as an owner of real estate, is subject to various Federal, state and local environmental laws. Compliance by the Operating Partnership with existing laws has not had a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership. However, the Operating Partnership cannot predict the impact of new or changed laws or regulations on its current properties or on properties that it may acquire in the future.

The Operating Partnership is party to a housing discrimination lawsuit brought in April of 2006 in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. The suit alleges that the Operating Partnership designed and built approximately 300 of the Operating Partnership’s properties in violation of the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act and Americans With Disabilities Act. The suit seeks actual and punitive damages, injunctive relief (including modification of non-compliant properties), costs and attorneys’ fees. The Operating Partnership believes it has a number of viable defenses, including that a majority of the named properties were completed before the operative dates of the statutes in question and/or were not designed or built by the Operating Partnership. Accordingly, the Operating Partnership is defending the suit vigorously. Due to the pendency of the Operating Partnership’s defenses and the uncertainty of many other critical factual and legal issues, it is not possible to determine or predict the outcome of the suit and as a result, no amounts have been accrued at September 30, 2006. While no assurances can be given, the Operating Partnership does not believe that the suit, if adversely determined, will have a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership.

The Operating Partnership does not believe there is any other litigation pending or threatened against the Operating Partnership which, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably may be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership.

During the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Operating Partnership established a reserve and recorded a corresponding expense, net of insurance receivables, for estimated uninsured property damage at certain of its properties caused by various hurricanes in each respective year. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership received $11.0 million in insurance proceeds and recorded an additional $5.8 million of receivables in anticipation of proceeds expected. As of September 30, 2006, a receivable of $5.9 million and a liability of $3.7 million are included in other assets and rents received in advance and other liabilities, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets.

As of September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership has eleven projects totaling 3,454 units in various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through June 30, 2009. The primary development agreements currently in place have the following key terms:

·                  The first development partner has the right, at any time following completion of a project subject to the agreement, to stipulate a value for such project and offer to sell its interest in the project to the Operating Partnership based on such value. If the Operating Partnership chooses not to purchase the interest, the Operating Partnership must agree to a sale of the project to an unrelated third party at such value. The Operating Partnership’s partner must exercise this right as to all projects subject to the agreement within five years after the receipt of the final certificate of occupancy on the last developed property. In connection with this development agreement, the Operating Partnership has an obligation to provide up to $40.0 million in credit enhancements to guarantee a portion of the third party

20




construction financing. As of November 1, 2006, the Operating Partnership did not have any amounts outstanding related to this credit enhancement. The Operating Partnership would be required to perform under this agreement only if there was a material default under a third party construction mortgage agreement. This agreement expires no later than December 31, 2018. Notwithstanding the termination of the agreement, the Operating Partnership shall have recourse against its development partner for any losses incurred.

·                        The second development partner has the right, at any time following completion of a project subject to the agreement, to require the Operating Partnership to purchase the partners’ interest in that project at a mutually agreeable price. If the Operating Partnership and the partner are unable to agree on a price, both parties will obtain appraisals. If the appraised values vary by more than 10%, both the Operating Partnership and its partner will agree on a third appraiser to determine which original appraisal is closest to its determination of value. The Operating Partnership may elect at that time not to purchase the property and instead, authorize its partner to sell the project at or above the agreed-upon value to an unrelated third party. Five years following the receipt of the final certificate of occupancy on the last developed property, the Operating Partnership must purchase, at the agreed-upon price, any projects remaining unsold.

·                  The third development partner has the exclusive right for six months following stabilization, as defined, to market a subject project for sale. Thereafter, either the Operating Partnership or its development partner may market a subject project for sale. If the Operating Partnership’s development partner proposes the sale, the Operating Partnership may elect to purchase the project at the price proposed by its partner or defer the sale until two independent appraisers appraise the project. If the two appraised values vary by more than 5%, a third appraiser will be chosen to determine the fair market value of the property. Once a value has been determined, the Operating Partnership may elect to purchase the property or authorize its development partner to sell the project at the agreed-upon value.

In addition, the Operating Partnership has various deal-specific development agreements with partners, the overall terms of which are similar in nature to those described above.

15.          Reportable Segments

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by senior management. Senior management decides how resources are allocated and assesses performance on a monthly basis.

The Operating Partnership’s primary business is owning, managing, and operating multifamily residential properties, which includes the generation of rental and other related income through the leasing of apartment units to residents and includes Equity Corporate Housing (“ECH”). Senior management evaluates the performance of each of our apartment communities on an individual basis; however, each of our apartment communities has similar economic characteristics, residents, and products and services so they have been aggregated into one reportable segment. The Operating Partnership’s rental real estate segment comprises approximately 99.5% and 99.4% of total revenues from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and approximately 99.6% and 99.4% of total revenues for the quarters ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Operating Partnership’s rental real estate segment comprises approximately 99.8% of total assets at both September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005.

The primary financial measure for the Operating Partnership’s rental real estate segment is net operating income (“NOI”), which represents rental income less: 1) property and maintenance expense; 2) real estate taxes and insurance expense; and 3) property management expense (as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations). The Operating Partnership believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of the operating performance of a real estate company because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Operating Partnership’s apartment communities. Current year NOI is

21




compared to prior year NOI and current year budgeted NOI as a measure of financial performance. The following table presents the NOI from our rental real estate specific to continuing operations for the nine months and quarters ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Rental income

 

$

1,470,705

 

$

1,237,279

 

$

511,794

 

$

428,357

 

Property and maintenance expense

 

(390,732

)

(338,810

)

(138,285

)

(121,562

)

Real estate taxes and insurance expense

 

(148,604

)

(136,813

)

(51,525

)

(50,181

)

Property management expense

 

(70,081

)

(63,351

)

(23,417

)

(21,944

)

Net operating income

 

$

861,288

 

$

698,305

 

$

298,567

 

$

234,670

 

 

The Operating Partnership’s fee and asset management activity is immaterial and does not meet the threshold requirements of a reportable segment as provided for in SFAS No. 131.

All revenues are from external customers and there is no customer who contributed 10% or more of the Operating Partnership’s total revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 or 2005.

16.          Subsequent Events/Other

Subsequent to September 30, 2006 and through November 1, 2006, the Operating Partnership:

·                  Disposed of the Lexford Housing Division on October 5, 2006 for a cash purchase price of $1.086 billion. The Lexford Housing Division was comprised of 289 properties, consisting of 27,115 apartment units located in ten states and a property management business, consisting of approximately 800 employees. Prior to and in conjunction with the closing of the sale, the Operating Partnership paid off $196.3 million of mortgage notes and incurred approximately $10.8 million in prepayment penalties upon extinguishment;

·                  Disposed of two other residential properties consisting of 408 units (excluding condominium units) and one commercial parcel for approximately $33.0 million;

·                  Acquired $222.6 million of apartment properties consisting of five properties and 1,029 units;

·                  Assumed $34.5 million of mortgage debt in connection with the acquisition of one property;

·                  Repaid $50.0 million of 6.69% fixed rate public notes and $11.0 million of floating rate mortgage debt at maturity; and

·                  Terminated its $500.0 million short-term revolving credit facility.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the Operating Partnership received proceeds from technology and other investments of $3.7 million and $82.1 million, respectively, from the following:

·                  $25.0 million in full redemption of its 1,000,000 shares of 8.25% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities during 2005; and

·                  $3.7 million and $57.1 million for its ownership interest in Rent.com in connection with the acquisition of Rent.com by eBay, Inc. in 2006 and 2005, respectively. Both amounts were recorded as interest and other income in the respective consolidated statements of operations.

22




Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

For further information including definitions for capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Operating Partnership’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Forward-looking statements in this report are intended to be made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions made by management.  While the Operating Partnership’s management believes the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such information is inherently subject to uncertainties and may involve certain risks, which could cause actual results, performance, or achievements of the Operating Partnership to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Many of these uncertainties and risks are difficult to predict and beyond management’s control.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, results or events.  The Operating Partnership assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements because of subsequent events.   Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to the following:

·                  Occupancy levels and market rents may be adversely affected by national and local economic and market conditions including, without limitation, new construction of multifamily housing, slow employment growth, availability of low interest mortgages for single-family home buyers and the potential for geopolitical instability, all of which are beyond the Operating Partnership’s control;

·                  Sources of capital to the Operating Partnership or labor and materials required for maintenance, repair, capital expenditure or development are more expensive than anticipated;

·                  We intend to actively acquire and develop multifamily properties for rental operations and/or conversion into condominiums, as well as upgrade and sell existing properties as individual condominiums.  We may underestimate the costs necessary to bring an acquired or condominium conversion property up to standards established for its intended market position or to otherwise develop a property.  Additionally, we expect that other major real estate investors with significant capital will compete with us for attractive investment opportunities or may also develop properties in markets where we focus our development efforts.  This competition may increase prices for multifamily properties or decrease the price at which we expect to sell individual condominiums.  We may not be in a position or have the opportunity in the future to make suitable property acquisitions on favorable terms.  We also plan to develop more properties ourselves in addition to co-investing with our development partners for either the rental or condominium market, depending on opportunities in each sub-market.  This may increase the overall level of risk associated with our developments.  The total number of development units, cost of development and estimated completion dates are subject to uncertainties arising from changing economic conditions (such as the cost of labor and construction materials), competition and local government regulation;

·                  In addition, upon conversion of properties to condominiums, there may be increased risk related to construction performed during the conversion.  Condominium associations may assert that the construction performed was defective, resulting in litigation and/or settlement discussions; and

·                  Additional factors as discussed in Part I of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly those under “Risk Factors”.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  The Operating Partnership undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.  Forward-looking statements and related

23




uncertainties are also included in Notes 4, 5, 11 and 16 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Results of Operations

In conjunction with our business objectives and operating strategy, the Operating Partnership has continued to invest or recycle its capital investment in apartment communities located in strategically targeted markets during the nine months ended September 30, 2006.  In summary, we:

·                  Acquired $1.4 billion of properties consisting of 28 properties and 7,480 units and $93.5 million of land parcels, all of which we deem to be in our strategic targeted markets; and

·                  Sold $1.0 billion of apartment properties consisting of 40 properties and 10,661 units as well as 840 condominium units for $172.6 million and $1.6 million of land parcels.

 

On June 28, 2006, the Operating Partnership announced that it agreed to sell its Lexford Housing Division for a cash purchase price of $1.086 billion.  The sale closed on October 5, 2006.  The Lexford Housing Division results are classified as discontinued operations, net of minority interests, in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented and Lexford investment in real estate and mortgage notes payable balances are classified as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2006.  The Operating Partnership expects to record a gain on sale of approximately $420.0 million on the sale of the Lexford Housing Division in the fourth quarter of 2006.

The Operating Partnership’s primary financial measure for evaluating each of its apartment communities is net operating income (“NOI”).  NOI represents rental income less property and maintenance expense, real estate tax and insurance expense, and property management expense.  The Operating Partnership believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of the operating performance of a real estate company because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Operating Partnership’s apartment communities.

Properties that the Operating Partnership owned for all of both of the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (the “Nine-Month 2006 Same Store Properties”), which represented 129,965 units and properties that the Operating Partnership owned for all of both of the quarters ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (the “Third Quarter 2006 Same Store Properties”), which represented 133,526 units, also impacted the Operating Partnership’s results of operations.  Both the Nine-Month 2006 Same Store Properties and Third Quarter 2006 Same Store Properties are discussed in the following paragraphs.

The Operating Partnership’s acquisition, disposition, completed development and consolidation of previously unconsolidated property activities also impacted overall results of operations for the nine months and quarters ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.  The impacts of these activities are also discussed in greater detail in the following paragraphs.

Comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to the nine months ended September 30, 2005

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, income from continuing operations decreased by approximately $39.5 million when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005.  This decrease is primarily attributable to the reasons discussed below.

Revenues from the Nine-Month 2006 Same Store Properties increased $68.4 million primarily as a result of higher rental rates charged to residents.  Expenses from the Nine-Month 2006 Same Store Properties increased $14.6 million primarily due to higher maintenance, payroll, utility costs and real estate taxes.  All same store results exclude the Lexford Housing Division.  See Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.  The following tables provide comparative revenue, expense, NOI and occupancy/turnover statistics for the Nine-Month 2006 Same Store Properties:

24




 

September YTD 2006 vs. September YTD 2005

YTD over YTD Same-Store Results

$ in Millions — 129,965 Same-Store Units (excludes Lexford)

 

Description

 

Revenues

 

Expenses

 

NOI

 

YTD 2006

 

$

1,214.5

 

$

474.5

 

$

740.0

 

YTD 2005

 

$

1,146.1

 

$

459.9

 

$

686.2

 

Change

 

$

68.4

 

$

14.6

 

$

53.8

 

Change

 

6.0

%

3.2

%

7.8

%

 

Same-Store Statistics (excludes Lexford)

 

 

Occupancy

 

Turnover

 

YTD 2006

 

94.6

%

49.3

%

YTD 2005

 

94.7

%

50.4

%

Change

 

(0.1

)%

(1.1

)%

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of operating income per the consolidated statements of operations to NOI for the Nine-Month 2006 Same-Store Properties:

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

(Amounts in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

$

408.9

 

$

330.2

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

Non-same-store operating results

 

(121.3

)

(12.1

)

Fee and asset management revenue

 

(6.9

)

(7.8

)

Fee and asset management expense

 

6.5

 

6.4

 

Depreciation

 

415.2

 

323.6

 

General and administrative

 

37.6

 

45.9

 

Same-store NOI

 

$

740.0

 

$

686.2

 

 

For properties that the Operating Partnership acquired prior to January 1, 2005 and expects to continue to own through December 31, 2006, the Operating Partnership anticipates the following same store results for the full year ending December 31, 2006:

2006 Same-Store Assumptions

Physical Occupancy

 

94.5

%

Revenue Change

 

5.75

%

Expense Change

 

3.50

%

NOI Change

 

7.20

%

 

These 2006 assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward-looking.

Non-same-store operating results increased $109.2 million and consist primarily of properties acquired in calendar years 2006 and 2005 as well as our corporate housing business.

Fee and asset management revenues, net of fee and asset management expenses decreased $1.0 million primarily as a result of lower income earned from managing fewer properties for third parties and unconsolidated entities.  As of September 30, 2006 and 2005, the Operating Partnership managed 14,784 units and 17,148 units, respectively, for third parties and unconsolidated entities.

25




Property management expenses from continuing operations include off-site expenses associated with the self-management of the Operating Partnership’s properties as well as management fees paid to any third party management companies.  These expenses increased by approximately $6.7 million or 10.6%.  This increase is primarily attributable to higher overall payroll costs and higher overall computer and training costs specific to the Operating Partnership’s rollout of a new property management system.

Depreciation expense from continuing operations, which includes depreciation on non-real estate assets, increased $91.6 million primarily as a result of additional depreciation expense on newly acquired properties and capital expenditures for all properties owned.

General and administrative expenses, which include corporate operating expenses, decreased approximately $8.3 million between the periods under comparison.  This decrease was primarily due to lower executive compensation expense due to severance costs for several executive officers incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and a $2.8 million reimbursement of legal expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2006.  The Operating Partnership anticipates that general and administrative expenses will approximate $50.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2006.  This above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Interest and other income from continuing operations decreased by approximately $53.2 million, primarily as a result of the $57.1 million in cash received during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, partially offset by the $3.7 million in additional proceeds received during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, all for the Operating Partnership’s ownership interest in Rent.com, which was acquired by eBay, Inc.

Interest expense from continuing operations, including amortization of deferred financing costs, increased approximately $54.8 million primarily as a result of higher variable interest rates and overall debt levels outstanding.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership capitalized interest costs of approximately $13.2 million as compared to $9.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.  This capitalization of interest primarily relates to projects under development.  The effective interest cost on all indebtedness for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was 6.14% as compared to 6.23% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

Loss from investments in unconsolidated entities increased approximately $0.1 million between the periods under comparison.  This increase is primarily the result of consolidating previously unconsolidated properties as of January 1, 2006 as the result of EITF Issue No. 04-05.  See Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Net gain on sales of land parcels decreased $7.2 million, due to a large gain recorded on the sale of one land parcel during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

Discontinued operations, net increased approximately $0.7 million between the periods under comparison.  This increase is primarily the result of higher per unit sales prices and lower real estate net book values for properties sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005.  Discontinued operations, net of minority interests includes our Lexford Housing Division, which is held for sale as of September 30, 2006.  See Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Comparison of the quarter ended September 30, 2006 to the quarter ended September 30, 2005

For the quarter ended September 30, 2006, income from continuing operations increased by approximately $22.4 million when compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2005.

 

26




Revenues from the Third Quarter 2006 Same Store Properties increased $23.8 million primarily as a result of higher rental rates charged to residents.  Expenses from the Third Quarter 2006 Same Store Properties increased $2.3 million primarily due to higher payroll, utility costs and real estate taxes.  The following tables provide comparative revenue, expense, NOI and occupancy/turnover statistics for the Third Quarter 2006 Same Store Properties:

Third Quarter 2006 vs. Third Quarter 2005

Quarter over Quarter Same-Store Results

$ in Millions — 133,526 Same-Store Units (excludes Lexford)

 

Description

 

Revenues

 

Expenses

 

NOI

 

Q3 2006

 

$

423.7

 

$

165.9

 

$

257.8

 

Q3 2005

 

$

399.9

 

$

163.6

 

$

236.3

 

Change

 

$

23.8

 

$

2.3

 

$

21.5

 

Change

 

5.9

%

1.4

%

9.1

%

 

Same-Store Statistics (excludes Lexford)

 

 

Occupancy

 

Turnover

 

Q3 2006

 

94.6

%

18.8

%

Q3 2005

 

95.2

%

18.7

%

Change

 

(0.6

)%

0.1

%

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of operating income per the consolidated statements of operations to NOI for the Third Quarter 2006 Same-Store Properties:

 

Quarter Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

(Amounts in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

$

140.8

 

$

109.1

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

Non-same-store operating results

 

(40.8

)

1.6

 

Fee and asset management revenue

 

(2.1

)

(2.4

)

Fee and asset management expense

 

2.2

 

2.2

 

Depreciation

 

143.3

 

111.4

 

General and administrative

 

14.4

 

14.4

 

Same-store NOI

 

$

257.8

 

$

236.3

 

 

Non-same-store operating results increased $42.4 million and consist primarily of properties acquired in calendar years 2006 and 2005 as well as our corporate housing business.

Fee and asset management revenues, net of fee and asset management expenses decreased $0.3 million primarily as a result of lower income earned from managing fewer properties for third parties and unconsolidated entities.

Property management expenses from continuing operations include off-site expenses associated with the self-management of the Operating Partnership’s properties as well as management fees paid to any third party management companies.  These expenses increased by approximately $1.5 million or 6.7%.  This increase is primarily attributable to higher overall payroll costs and training costs specific to the Operating Partnership’s rollout of a new property management system.

Depreciation expense from continuing operations, which includes depreciation on non-real estate assets, increased $31.9 million primarily as a result of additional depreciation expense on newly acquired properties and capital expenditures for all properties owned.

27




General and administrative expenses, which include corporate operating expenses, were consistent between the periods under comparison.

Interest and other income from continuing operations increased by approximately $4.7 million, primarily as a result of $3.7 million in additional proceeds received during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 related to the Operating Partnership’s ownership interest in Rent.com, which was acquired by eBay, Inc.

Interest expense from continuing operations, including amortization of deferred financing costs, increased approximately $18.2 million primarily as a result of higher variable interest rates and overall debt levels outstanding.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership capitalized interest costs of approximately $5.4 million as compared to $3.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.  This capitalization of interest primarily relates to projects under development.  The effective interest cost on all indebtedness for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 was 6.03% as compared to 6.28% for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.

Loss from investments in unconsolidated entities was consistent between the periods under comparison.  See Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Net gain on sales of land parcels increased $2.9 million between the periods under comparison as the Operating Partnership recognized a deferred gain on a collected note receivable related to a parcel sold in 2005.

Discontinued operations, net decreased approximately $235.2 million between the periods under comparison.  This decrease is due to disposing of only two properties during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 in anticipation of the fourth quarter disposition of the Lexford Portfolio.  See Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of January 1, 2006, the Operating Partnership had approximately $88.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and $780.8 million available under its revolving credit facilities (net of $50.2 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit and not available for borrowing).  After taking into effect the various transactions discussed in the following paragraphs and the net cash provided by operating activities, the Operating Partnership’s cash and cash equivalents balance at September 30, 2006 was approximately $76.3 million and the amount available on the Operating Partnership’s revolving credit facilities was $912.0 million (net of $82.0 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit and not available for borrowing).

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership generated proceeds from various transactions, which included the following:

·                  Disposed of 45 properties, various individual condominium units and two land parcels, receiving net proceeds of approximately $1.1 billion;

·                  Obtained $395.5 million in net proceeds from the issuance of $400.0 million of ten and one-half year 5.375% fixed rate public notes and terminated six forward starting swaps designated to hedge the note issuance, receiving net proceeds of $10.7 million;

·                  Obtained $637.0 million in net proceeds from the issuance of $650.0 million of twenty year 3.85% exchangeable fixed rate public notes;

·                  Obtained $247.8 million in new mortgage financing; and

·                  Issued approximately 2.1 million OP Units and received net proceeds of $57.0 million.

28




During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the above proceeds were primarily utilized to:

·                  Invest $193.6 million primarily in development projects;

·      Acquire 28 properties and six land parcels, utilizing cash of $1.4 billion;

·      Repurchase 1.9 million OP Units utilizing cash of $83.2 million;

·                  Repay $267.0 million of mortgage loans;

·                  Repay $10.0 million of fixed rate public notes;

·                  Redeem the Series G Preference Interests at a liquidation value of $25.5 million; and

·                  Redeem the Series C Preference Units at a liquidation value of $115.0 million.

Depending on its analysis of market prices, economic conditions, and other opportunities for the investment of available capital, the Company may repurchase its Common Shares pursuant to its existing share buyback program authorized by the Board of Trustees.  EQR repurchased $83.2 million (1,897,912 shares at an average price per share of $43.85) of its Common Shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to offset the issuance of 1,144,326 OP Units to limited partners in connection with three property acquisitions and to partially offset EQR restricted shares granted and ESPP shares purchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2006.  Concurrent with this transaction, the Operating Partnership repurchased and retired 1,897,912 OP Units previously issued to EQR.  EQR is authorized to repurchase approximately $501.8 million of additional Common Shares.  The Operating Partnership in turn would repurchase $501.8 million of its OP Units held by EQR.

The Operating Partnership’s total debt summary and debt maturity schedules as of September 30, 2006, are as follows:

Debt Summary as of September 30, 2006

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

Amounts (1)

 

% of Total

 

Weighted
Average
Rates (1)

 

Weighted
Average
Maturities
(years)

 

Secured

 

$

3,353,413

 

40.3

%

5.83

%

6.3

 

Unsecured

 

4,975,043

 

59.7

%

5.91

%

6.7

 

Total

 

$

8,328,456

 

100.0

%

5.87

%

6.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed Rate Debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured — Conventional

 

$

2,495,958

 

30.0

%

6.33

%

4.3

 

Secured — Tax Exempt

 

18,289

 

0.2

%

6.40

%

18.5

 

Unsecured — Public/Private

 

4,207,653

 

50.5

%

6.00

%

7.0

 

Unsecured — Tax Exempt

 

111,390

 

1.3

%

5.07

%

22.6

 

Fixed Rate Debt

 

6,833,290

 

82.0

%

6.12

%

6.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floating Rate Debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured — Conventional

 

304,008

 

3.7

%

6.24

%

2.0

 

Secured — Tax Exempt

 

535,158

 

6.4

%

3.43

%

17.6

 

Unsecured — Public

 

150,000

 

1.8

%

6.03

%

2.7

 

Unsecured — Revolving Credit Facilities

 

506,000

 

6.1

%

5.34

%

1.4

 

Floating Rate Debt

 

1,495,166

 

18.0

%

4.84

%

7.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

8,328,456

 

100.0

%

5.87

%

6.5

 


(1)             Net of the effect of any derivative instruments.  Weighted average rates are for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

29




Debt Maturity Schedule as of September 30, 2006

(Amounts in thousands)

Year

 

Fixed
Rate (1)

 

Floating
Rate (1)

 

Total (5)

 

% of Total

 

Weighted
Average Rates
on Fixed Rate
Debt (1)

 

Weighted
Average Rates
on Total
Debt (1)

 

2006

 

$

227,510

 

$

28,578

 

$

256,088

 

3.1

%

7.03

%

7.02

%

2007(2)

 

325,525

 

249,202

 

574,727

 

6.9

%

6.88

%

6.52

%

2008(3)

 

556,308

 

359,334

 

915,642

 

11.0

%

6.73

%

6.23

%

2009

 

480,003

 

382,029

 

862,032

 

10.3

%

6.43

%

5.34

%

2010

 

279,768

 

 

279,768

 

3.4

%

7.05

%

7.05

%

2011(4)

 

1,450,123

 

24,150

 

1,474,273

 

17.7

%

5.52

%

5.49

%

2012

 

558,522

 

 

558,522

 

6.7

%

6.48

%

6.48

%

2013

 

567,485

 

 

567,485

 

6.8

%

5.93

%

5.93

%

2014

 

504,291

 

 

504,291

 

6.1

%

5.27

%

5.27

%

2015

 

316,638

 

 

316,638

 

3.8

%

6.53

%

6.53

%

2016+

 

1,567,117

 

451,873

 

2,018,990

 

24.2

%

5.74

%

5.44

%

Total

 

$

6,833,290

 

$

1,495,166

 

$

8,328,456

 

100.0

%

6.05

%

5.84

%


(1)             Net of the effect of any derivative instruments.  Weighted average rates are as of September 30, 2006.

(2)             Includes $176.0 million outstanding on the Operating Partnership’s short-term $500.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility.  This facility was terminated by the Operating Partnership on October 13, 2006.

(3)             Includes $330.0 million outstanding on the Operating Partnership’s long-term $1.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, which matures on May 29, 2008.

(4)             Includes $650.0 million of 3.85% exchangeable unsecured debt with a final maturity of 2026.  The notes are callable by the Operating Partnership on or after August 18, 2011.  The notes are putable by the holders on August 18, 2011, August 15, 2016 and August 15, 2021.

(5)             The above table includes the following maturity amounts (in thousands) related to the Lexford Portfolio, all of which was repaid in full in October 2006: 2006 - $94,981; 2007 - $28,618; 2008 - $44,152; 2009 - $27,459; 2010 - $515; 2011 - $600.

The following table provides a summary of the Operating Partnership’s unsecured debt as of September 30, 2006:

 

30




Unsecured Debt Summary as of September 30, 2006

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unamortized

 

 

 

 

 

Coupon

 

Due

 

Face

 

Premium/

 

Net

 

 

 

Rate

 

Date

 

Amount

 

(Discount)

 

Balance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed Rate Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.690

%

11/01/06

 

$

50,000

 

$

(4

)

$

49,996

 

 

 

7.625

%

04/15/07

 

50,000

 

94

 

50,094

 

 

 

6.900

%

08/01/07

 

50,000

 

(21

)

49,979

 

 

 

7.540

%

09/01/07

(1)

4,286

 

 

4,286

 

 

 

4.861

%

11/30/07

 

50,000

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

7.500

%

08/15/08

(1)

130,000

 

 

130,000

 

 

 

4.750

%

06/15/09

(2)

300,000

 

(743

)

299,257

 

 

 

6.950

%

03/02/11

 

300,000

 

3,817

 

303,817

 

 

 

6.625

%

03/15/12

 

400,000

 

(1,603

)

398,397

 

 

 

5.200

%

04/01/13

 

400,000

 

(770

)

399,230

 

 

 

5.250

%

09/15/14

 

500,000

 

(489

)

499,511

 

 

 

6.584

%

04/13/15

 

300,000

 

(946

)

299,054

 

 

 

5.125

%

03/15/16

 

500,000

 

(507

)

499,493

 

 

 

5.375

%

08/01/16

 

400,000

 

(1,824

)

398,176

 

 

 

7.125

%

10/15/17

 

150,000

 

(716

)

149,284

 

 

 

7.570

%

08/15/26

 

140,000

 

 

140,000

 

 

 

3.850

%

08/15/26

(3)

650,000

 

(8,091

)

641,909

 

Floating Rate Adjustments

 

 

 

 

(2)

(150,000

)

 

(150,000

)

FAS 133 Adjustments - net

 

 

 

 

(2)

(4,830

)

 

(4,830

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,219,456

 

(11,803

)

4,207,653

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed Rate Tax Exempt Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.750

%

12/15/28

(1)

35,600

 

 

35,600

 

 

 

5.200

%

06/15/29

(1)

75,790

 

 

75,790

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

111,390

 

 

111,390

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floating Rate Notes:

 

 

 

06/15/09

(2)

150,000

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving Credit Facilities:

 

 

 

05/29/08

(4)

506,000

 

 

506,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Unsecured Debt

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,986,846

 

$

(11,803

)

$

4,975,043

 


(1)             Notes are private.  All other unsecured debt is public.

(2)             $150.0 million in fair value interest rate swaps converts 50% of the 4.750% Notes due June 15, 2009 to a floating interest rate.

(3)             Convertible notes mature on August 15, 2026.  The notes are callable by the Operating Partnership on or after August 18, 2011. The notes are putable by the holders on August 18, 2011, August 15, 2016 and August 15, 2021.

(4)             Includes $176.0 million and $330.0 million outstanding on the Operating Partnership’s short-term $500.0 million and long-term $1.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facilities, respectively.  The short-term facility was terminated on October 13, 2006.

As of November 1, 2006, an unlimited amount of debt securities remains available for issuance by the Operating Partnership under a registration statement that became automatically effective upon filing with the SEC in June 2006 (under SEC regulations, the registration statement automatically expires on June 29, 2009 and does not contain a maximum issuance amount) and $956.5 million in equity securities remains

31




available for issuance by EQR under a registration statement the SEC declared effective in February 1998.  Per the terms of ERPOP’s partnership agreement, EQR contributes the net proceeds of all equity offerings to the capital of the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis) or preference units (on a one-for-one preferred share per preference unit basis).

The Operating Partnership’s “Consolidated Debt-to-Total Market Capitalization Ratio” as of September 30, 2006 is presented in the following table.  The Operating Partnership calculates the equity component of its market capitalization as the sum of (i) the total outstanding OP Units at the equivalent market value of the closing price of EQR’s Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) the “OP Unit Equivalent” of all convertible preference units/interests; and (iii) the liquidation value of all perpetual preference units outstanding.

Capital Structure as of September 30, 2006

(Amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts)

 

Secured Debt

 

 

 

$

3,157,088

 

38

%

 

 

Secured Debt — Properties Held for Sale

 

 

 

196,325

 

2

%

 

 

Unsecured Debt

 

 

 

4,469,043

 

54

%

 

 

Lines of Credit

 

 

 

506,000

 

6

%

 

 

Total Debt

 

 

 

8,328,456

 

100

%

34

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OP Units

 

312,664,694

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OP Unit Equivalents (see below)

 

891,646

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total outstanding at quarter-end

 

313,556,340

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQR Common Share Price at September 30, 2006

 

$

50.58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,859,680

 

98

%

 

 

Perpetual Preference Units (see below)

 

 

 

375,000

 

2

%

 

 

Total Equity

 

 

 

16,234,680

 

100

%

66

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Market Capitalization

 

 

 

$

24,563,136

 

 

 

100

%

 

Convertible Preference Units/Interests as of September 30, 2006

(Amounts in thousands except for unit/interest and per unit/interest amounts)

 

Series

 

Redemption
Date

 

Outstanding
Units/
Interests

 

Liquidation
Value

 

Annual
Dividend
Per Unit/
Interest

 

Annual
Dividend
Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Conversion
Ratio

 

OP Unit
Equivalents

 

Preference Units:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.00% Series E

 

11/1/98

 

464,616

 

$

11,615

 

$

1.75

 

$

813

 

 

 

1.1128

 

517,025

 

7.00% Series H

 

6/30/98

 

29,434

 

736

 

1.75

 

52

 

 

 

1.4480

 

42,620

 

Preference Interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.625% Series J

 

12/14/06

 

230,000

 

11,500

 

3.8125

 

877

 

 

 

1.4108

 

324,484

 

Junior Preference Units:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.00% Series B

 

7/29/09

 

7,367

 

184

 

2.00

 

15

 

 

 

1.020408

 

7,517

 

Total Convertible Preference Units/Interests

 

 

 

731,417

 

$

24,035

 

 

 

$

1,757

 

7.31

%

 

 

891,646

 

 

Perpetual Preference Units as of September 30, 2006

(Amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts)

 

Series

 

Redemption
Date

 

Outstanding
Units

 

Liquidation
Value

 

Annual
Dividend
Per Unit

 

Annual
Dividend
Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Preference Units:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.60% Series D

 

7/15/07

 

700,000

 

$

175,000

 

$

21.50

 

$

15,050

 

 

 

8.29% Series K

 

12/10/26

 

1,000,000

 

50,000

 

4.145

 

4,145

 

 

 

6.48% Series N

 

6/19/08

 

600,000

 

150,000

 

16.20

 

9,720

 

 

 

Total Perpetual Preference Units

 

 

 

2,300,000

 

$

375,000

 

 

 

$

28,915

 

7.71

%

 

32




The Operating Partnership expects to meet its short-term liquidity requirements, including capital expenditures related to maintaining its existing properties and certain scheduled unsecured note and mortgage note repayments, generally through its working capital, net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under its revolving credit facilities.  The Operating Partnership considers its cash provided by operating activities to be adequate to meet operating/capital requirements and payments of distributions.  The Operating Partnership also expects to meet its long-term liquidity requirements, such as scheduled unsecured note and mortgage debt maturities, property acquisitions and financing of construction and development activities through the issuance of unsecured notes and equity securities, including additional OP Units, and proceeds received from the disposition of certain properties.  In addition, the Operating Partnership has significant unencumbered properties available to secure additional mortgage borrowings in the event that the public capital markets are unavailable or the cost of alternative sources of capital is too high.  The fair value of and cash flow from these unencumbered properties are in excess of the requirements the Operating Partnership must maintain in order to comply with covenants under its unsecured notes and line of credit.  Of the $17.7 billion in investment in real estate on the Operating Partnership’s balance sheet at September 30, 2006 (including gross Lexford real estate held for sale), $11.7 billion or 66.2%, was unencumbered.

The Operating Partnership has a long-term revolving credit facility with potential borrowings of up to $1.0 billion which matures in May 2008.  This facility may, among other potential uses, be used to fund property acquisitions, costs for certain properties under development and short term liquidity requirements.  As of November 1, 2006, $315.0 million was outstanding under this facility.

See Note 16 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the events which occurred subsequent to September 30, 2006.

Capitalization of Fixed Assets and Improvements to Real Estate

Our policy with respect to capital expenditures is generally to capitalize expenditures that improve the value of the property or extend the useful life of the component asset of the property.  We track improvements to real estate in two major categories and several subcategories:

·             Replacements (inside the unit).  These include:

·                  flooring such as carpets, hardwood, vinyl, linoleum or tile;

·                  appliances;

·                  mechanical equipment such as individual furnace/air units, hot water heaters, etc;

·                  furniture and fixtures such as kitchen/bath cabinets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, sinks, tubs, toilets, mirrors, countertops, etc; and

·                  blinds/shades.

All replacements are depreciated over a five-year estimated useful life.  We expense as incurred all make-ready maintenance and turnover costs such as cleaning, interior painting of individual units and the repair of any replacement item noted above.

·             Building improvements (outside the unit).  These include:

·                  roof replacement and major repairs;

·                  paving or major resurfacing of parking lots, curbs and sidewalks;

·                  amenities and common areas such as pools, exterior sports and playground equipment, lobbies, clubhouses, laundry rooms, alarm and security systems and offices;

·                  major building mechanical equipment systems;

·                  interior and exterior structural repair and exterior painting and siding;

·                  major landscaping and grounds improvement; and

·                  vehicles and office and maintenance equipment.

All building improvements are depreciated over a five to ten-year estimated useful life.  We capitalize

33




building improvements and upgrades only if the item: (i) exceeds $2,500 (selected projects must exceed $10,000); (ii) extends the useful life of the asset; and (iii) improves the value of the asset.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, our actual improvements to real estate totaled approximately $181.2 million.  This includes the following detail (amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts):

Capitalized Improvements to Real Estate

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

Total Units
(1)

 

Replacements

 

Avg. Per
Unit

 

Building
Improvements

 

Avg. Per
Unit

 

Total

 

Avg. Per
Unit

 

Established Properties (2)

 

116,680

 

$

34,665

 

$

297

 

$

57,681

 

$

494

 

$

92,346

 

$

791

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Acquisition Properties (3)

 

28,352

 

6,746

 

275

 

22,117

 

903

 

28,863

 

1,178

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Properties Held for Sale (4)

 

27,115

 

8,723

 

322

 

6,383

 

235

 

15,106

 

557

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other (5)

 

7,056

 

15,978

 

 

 

28,933

 

 

 

44,911

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

179,203

 

$

66,112

 

 

 

$

115,114

 

 

 

$

181,226

 

 

 


(1)             Total units exclude 10,846 unconsolidated units and 3,643 military housing (fee managed) units.

(2)             Wholly Owned Properties acquired prior to January 1, 2004.

(3)             Wholly Owned Properties acquired during 2004, 2005 and 2006.  Per unit amounts are based on a weighted average of 24,498 units.

(4)             Properties held for sale include the entire Lexford Portfolio, which was sold on October 5, 2006.

(5)             Includes properties either Partially Owned or sold during the period, commercial space, condominium conversions and $12.7 million included in building improvements spent on fourteen specific assets related to major renovations and repositioning of these assets.

The Operating Partnership expects to fund approximately $30.0 million for capital expenditures for replacements and building improvements for all consolidated properties, exclusive of condominium conversion properties, for the remainder of 2006.  This includes an average of approximately $1,000 per unit for capital improvements for established properties.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership’s total non-real estate capital additions, such as computer software, computer equipment, and furniture and fixtures and leasehold improvements to the Operating Partnership’s property management offices and its corporate offices, were approximately $7.3 million.  The Operating Partnership expects to fund approximately $3.1 million in total additions to non-real estate property for the remainder of 2006.

Improvements to real estate and additions to non-real estate property were funded from net cash provided by operating activities.

Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, the Operating Partnership is exposed to the effect of interest rate changes.  The Operating Partnership limits these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives to hedge interest rate risk on debt instruments.

The Operating Partnership has a policy of only entering into contracts with major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors.  When viewed in conjunction with the underlying and offsetting exposure that the derivatives are designed to hedge, the Operating Partnership has not sustained a material loss from those instruments nor does it anticipate any material adverse effect on its net income or financial position in the future from the use of derivatives.

See Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative

34




instruments at September 30, 2006.

Other

Total distributions paid in October 2006 amounted to $145.8 million (excluding distributions on Partially Owned Properties), which included certain distributions declared during the third quarter ended September 30, 2006.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The Operating Partnership has co-invested in various properties that are unconsolidated and accounted for under the equity method of accounting.  Management does not believe these investments have a materially different impact upon the Operating Partnership’s liquidity, capital resources, credit or market risk than its property management and ownership activities.  During 2000 and 2001, the Operating Partnership entered into institutional ventures with an unaffiliated partner.   At the respective closing dates, the Operating Partnership sold and/or contributed 45 properties containing 10,846 units to these ventures and retained a 25% ownership interest in the ventures.  The Operating Partnership’s joint venture partner contributed cash equal to 75% of the agreed-upon equity value of the properties comprising the ventures, which was then distributed to the Operating Partnership.  The Operating Partnership’s strategy with respect to these ventures was to reduce its concentration of properties in a variety of markets.

As of September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership has 11 projects totaling 3,454 units in various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through June 30, 2009.  The development agreements currently in place are discussed in detail in Note 14 of the Operating Partnership’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

See also Notes 2 and 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Operating Partnership’s investments in partially owned entities.

The Operating Partnership’s contractual obligations for the next five years and thereafter have not changed materially from the amounts and disclosures included in its annual report on Form 10-K, other than as it relates to scheduled debt maturities.  See the updated debt maturity schedule included in Liquidity and Capital Resources for further discussion.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The Operating Partnership has identified six significant accounting policies as critical accounting policies.  These critical accounting policies are those that have the most impact on the reporting of our financial condition and those requiring significant judgments and estimates.  With respect to these critical accounting policies, management believes that the application of judgments and assessments is consistently applied and produces financial information that fairly presents the results of operations for all periods presented.  The six critical accounting policies are:

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Including Goodwill

The Operating Partnership periodically evaluates its long-lived assets, including its investments in real estate and goodwill, for indicators of permanent impairment.  The judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on factors such as operational performance, market conditions, expected holding period of each asset and legal and environmental concerns.  Future events could occur which would cause the Operating Partnership to conclude that impairment indicators exist and an impairment loss is warranted.

 

35




Depreciation of Investment in Real Estate

The Operating Partnership depreciates the building component of its investment in real estate over a 30-year estimated useful life, building improvements over a 5-year to 10-year estimated useful life and both the furniture, fixtures and equipment and replacements components over a 5-year estimated useful life, all of which are judgmental determinations.

Cost Capitalization

See the Capitalization of Fixed Assets and Improvements to Real Estate section for discussion of the policy with respect to capitalization vs. expensing of fixed asset/repair and maintenance costs.  In addition, the Operating Partnership capitalizes the payroll and associated costs of employees directly responsible for and who spend all of their time on the supervision of major capital and/or renovation projects.  These costs are reflected on the balance sheet as an increase to depreciable property.

The Operating Partnership follows the guidance in SFAS No. 67, Accounting for Costs and Initial Rental Operations of Real Estate Projects, for all development projects and uses its professional judgment in determining whether such costs meet the criteria for capitalization or must be expensed as incurred.  The Operating Partnership capitalizes interest, real estate taxes and insurance and payroll and associated costs for those individuals directly responsible for and who spend all of their time on development activities, with capitalization ceasing no later than 90 days following issuance of the certificate of occupancy.  These costs are reflected on the balance sheet as construction in progress for each specific property.  The Operating Partnership expenses as incurred all payroll costs of on-site employees working directly at our properties, except as noted above on our development properties prior to certificate of occupancy issuance and on specific major renovation at selected properties when additional incremental employees are hired.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Including Derivative Instruments

The valuation of financial instruments under SFAS No. 107 and SFAS No. 133 and its amendments (SFAS Nos. 137/138/149) requires the Operating Partnership to make estimates and judgments that affect the fair value of the instruments.  The Operating Partnership, where possible, bases the fair values of its financial instruments, including its derivative instruments, on listed market prices and third party quotes. Where these are not available, the Operating Partnership bases its estimates on current instruments with similar terms and maturities or on other factors relevant to the financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Rental income attributable to leases is recorded when due from residents and is recognized monthly as it is earned, which is not materially different than on a straight-line basis.  Leases entered into between a resident and a property for the rental of an apartment unit are generally year-to-year, renewable upon consent of both parties on an annual or monthly basis.  Fee and asset management revenue and interest income are recorded on an accrual basis.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R),   Share-Based Payment, effective January 1, 2006, which results in compensation expense being recorded based on the fair value of the stock compensation granted.

Any Common Shares issued pursuant to EQR’s incentive equity compensation and employee share purchase plans will result in the Operating Partnership issuing OP Units to EQR on a one-for-one basis, with the Operating Partnership receiving the net cash proceeds of such issuances.

36




Funds From Operations

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, Funds From Operations (“FFO”) available to OP Units decreased $16.6 million, or 2.9%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2006, FFO available to OP Units increased $20.2 million, or 11.5%, as compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2005.

The following is a reconciliation of net income to FFO available to OP Units for the nine months and quarters ended September 30, 2006 and 2005:

Funds From Operations

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Net income

 

$

650,739

 

$

689,543

 

$

74,029

 

$

286,787

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

415,179

 

323,608

 

143,255

 

111,370

 

Depreciation — Non-real estate additions

 

(5,615

)

(3,928

)

(1,933

)

(1,243

)

Depreciation — Partially Owned and Unconsolidated Properties

 

3,473

 

2,136

 

910

 

2,774

 

Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities

 

(370

)

(124

)

(18

)

-

 

Discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

25,429

 

67,543

 

-

 

20,513

 

Net gain on sales of discontinued operations (3)

 

(522,328

)

(503,053

)

(20,031

)

(254,178

)

Net incremental gain on sales of condominium units

 

31,431

 

56,667

 

12,878

 

27,631

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FFO (1)(2)

 

597,938

 

632,392

 

209,090

 

193,654

 

Preferred distributions

 

(31,461

)

(45,446

)

(9,737

)

(14,124

)

Premium on redemption of Preference Units

 

(3,941

)

(4,316

)

(3,941

)

(4,316

)

Premium on redemption of Preference Interests

 

(684

)

(4,134

)

(1

)

(22

)

FFO available to OP Units

 

$

561,852

 

$

578,496

 

$

195,411

 

$

175,192

 


(1)          The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) defines funds from operations (“FFO”) (April 2002 White Paper) as net income (computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”)), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable property, plus depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.  Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures will be calculated to reflect funds from operations on the same basis.  The April 2002 White Paper states that gain or loss on sales of property is excluded from FFO for previously depreciated operating properties only.  Once the Operating Partnership commences the conversion of units to condominiums, it simultaneously discontinues depreciation of such property.

(2)          The Operating Partnership believes that FFO is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of the operating performance of a real estate company, because it is a recognized measure of performance by the real estate industry and by excluding gains or losses related to dispositions of depreciable property and excluding real estate depreciation (which can vary among owners of identical assets in similar condition based on historical cost accounting and useful life estimates), FFO can help compare the operating performance of a company’s real estate between periods or as compared to different companies.  FFO in and of itself does not represent net income or net cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP.  Therefore, FFO should not be exclusively considered as an alternative to net income or to net cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP or as a measure of liquidity.  The Operating Partnership’s calculation of FFO may differ from other real estate companies due to, among other items, variations in cost capitalization policies for capital expenditures and, accordingly, may not be comparable to such other real estate companies.

(3)          Net gain on sales of discontinued operations has been reduced by approximately $4.5 million in one-time accrued retention benefits for both the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2006, related to the previously announced October 5, 2006 closing of the Lexford Housing Division disposition.

37




Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Operating Partnership’s market risk has not changed materially from the amounts and information reported in Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, to the Operating Partnership’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.  See also Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative instruments.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:

Effective as of September 30, 2006, the Operating Partnership carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Operating Partnership’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of EQR, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15.  Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Operating Partnership in its Exchange Act filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:

There were no changes to the internal control over financial reporting of the Operating Partnership identified in connection with the Operating Partnership’s evaluation referred to above that occurred during the third quarter of 2006 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect, the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.        OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Operating Partnership is party to a housing discrimination lawsuit brought in April of 2006 in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.  The suit alleges that the Operating Partnership designed and built approximately 300 of the Company’s properties in violation of the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act and Americans With Disabilities Act.  The suit seeks actual and punitive damages, injunctive relief (including modification of non-compliant properties), costs and attorneys’ fees.  The Operating Partnership believes it has a number of viable defenses, including that a majority of the named properties were completed before the operative dates of the statutes in question and/or were not designed or built by the Company.  Accordingly, the Company is defending the suit vigorously.  Due to the pendency of the Operating Partnership’s defenses and the uncertainty of many other critical factual and legal issues, it is not possible to determine or predict the outcome of the suit and as a result, no amounts have been accrued at September 30, 2006.  While no assurances can be given, the Operating Partnership does not believe that the suit, if adversely determined, will have a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership.

The Operating Partnership does not believe there is any other litigation pending or threatened against the Operating Partnership which, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably may be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes related to the risk factors that were discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Operating Partnership’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

38




Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a)  OP Units issued in the Quarter Ended September 30, 2006

The Operating Partnership issued 65,325 OP Units having a value of $3.1 million to its limited partners during the quarter ended September 30, 2006.

These OP Units were issued in exchange for direct or indirect interest in multifamily properties in private placement transactions under section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  In light of the manner of sale and information obtained by the Operating Partnership from persons receiving OP Units in connection with these transactions, the Operating Partnership believes it may rely on the exemption.  OP Units are generally exchangeable into Common Shares of EQR on a one-for-one basis or, at the option of EQR and the Operating Partnership, the cash equivalent thereof, at any time one year after the date of issuance.

(c)  OP Units Repurchased in the Quarter Ended September 30, 2006

The Operating Partnership repurchased the following OP Units during the quarter ended September 30, 2006:

Period

 

Total Number
of OP Units
Purchased (1)

 

Average Price
Paid Per Unit (1)

 

Total Number of OP
Units Purchased as Part
of Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs (1)

 

Dollar Value of OP
Units that May Yet
Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs (1)

 

August 2006

 

26,029

 

$

47.97

 

26,029

 

$

501,770,440

 

Third Quarter 2006

 

26,029

 

$

47.97

 

26,029

 

 

 


(1)             The OP Units repurchased during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 represent OP Units repurchased in response to repurchases of Common Shares in the open market under the Company’s publicly announced share repurchase program approved by its Board of Trustees.  Under this program, the Company may repurchase in open market or privately negotiated transactions up to $585.0 million of its Common Shares, with $501.8 million remaining following the above purchases.

39




Item 6.            Exhibits

12   

 

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges.

 

 

 

 

 

10.1

*

Amendment to Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Lexford Properties, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

10.2

**

Revolving Credit Bridge Agreement dated as of July 6, 2006 between ERP Operating Limited Partnership and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and a bank (the “Credit Agreement”).

 

 

 

 

 

10.3

**

Guaranty of Payment made as of July 6, 2006 between Equity Residential and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the banks party to the Credit Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.

 

 

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Donna Brandin, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.

 

 

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.

 

 

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Donna Brandin, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.

 


*                    Included as a exhibit to EQR’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.

**             Included as an exhibit to the Operating Partnership’s Form 8-K dated July 6, 2006, filed on July 11, 2006.

40




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

BY: EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

 

ITS GENERAL PARTNER

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: November 6, 2006

By:

s/ Donna Brandin

 

 

Donna Brandin

 

 

 

Executive Vice President and

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

(duly authorized officer and principal financial officer)

 

41




EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit

 

Document

 

 

 

12

 

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Donna Brandin, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Donna Brandin, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.